Spectrum Supply and Demand Prediction Models

Abstract

There is a general belief that there is not enough spectrum available to meet T&E needs. How do we know this is true? The very few studies that have analyzed this have done so with limited data and limited modeling. Spectrum is a natural resource. An analogy to gold mining can be useful. A certain amount of gold exists in the ground, but it takes equipment to extract it. It is only the extracted quantity that is available as supply. Transmitters and receivers are the mining equipment that extract spectrum. Demand is different from requirements. A quagmire of debate surrounds requirements. Whereas, what testers want is their choice. There is evidence that not all demand is input into spectrum scheduling systems due to a combined perception by some testers of low priority and a lack of spectrum. Thus, use and request data do not even capture demand. This paper provides models and techniques that can aid analyses trying to predict the gap between spectrum supply and demand.